New Year's Traditions Around the World
Greece
Greece is known for taking its traditions very seriously, and it's no different on New Year's. One custom is to hang a pomegranate—preferably blessed at the church beforehand—above one's front door. Then, Kalo Podariko, otherwise known as "first footing" takes place. In this custom, the first person to cross the threshold after midnight should be pure of heart and innocent. Generally, children are chosen for the task. The person who enters after the "first footer" then takes the pomegranate and, with their right hand, smashes it onto the door. The number of seeds expelled by the fruit supposedly influences the home's luck and prosperity for the coming year. So, the more seeds the better!
Japan
The island nation of Japan is a fairly recent convert to the Gregorian calendar (meaning that New Year's Day is celebrated on January 1). Up until 1873, the ｃounty used the same calendar as China, which is based on lunar phases.
There are a wide range of ceremonial dishes and activities in Japan. Most commonly, at midnight on New Year's Eve, bells are rung 108 times at Buddhist temples. The number 108 represents the Buddhist belief that there are that many possible human sins, and the bells' noise is thought to cleanse the souls of all who hear them. Then, after the cleansing bells, soba noodles are traditionally eaten.
Another interesting custom that is kept all over Japan is the mailing of postcards (which must arrive before or on January 1) to all of your friends and relatives to let them know you and your family are well, a tradition similar to Christmas cards in the U.S.
England
England is a ｃountry that knows how to party, and New Year's Eve is one of the biggest celebrations of the year, especially in London. Public gatherings—in places like Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square—begin on the evening of the 31st and culminate with a riotous ｃountdown to the midnight chimes from Big Ben.
After midnight, revelers link arms and sing "Auld Lang Syne" while fireworks erupt. A unique tradition in England is that people keep the back doors of their homes open to let the old year "out." Similarly to Greece's "first-footing" tradition, it is considered good luck if the first person to cross your threshold after midnight is an attractive, dark-haired young man bearing gifts of coal, salt and bread (which represent warmth, good food and wealth for the new year).
What if a blond or redheaded man arrives? It's the same fate as if a woman comes. You'll have bad luck in the coming year. We imagine that British dark-haired young men are in quite the demand on January 1!
Brazil
Brazil's reputation for energetic celebration extends into the ｃountry's New Year traditions. All around the ｃountry, it is considered good luck for the coming year if you consume lentils and rice on New Year's Day. Also, most people wear white on the first day of the New Year to bring prosperity and peace for the next 365 days.
In Rio de Janeiro—the ｃountry's biggest party city—as in all coastal regions, it is also considered auspicious to go to the ocean's edge and jump over seven incoming waves right after midnight. Another ocean-based custom is the annual gifts proffered to the Goddess of the Sea and the Mother of Waters. To thank the goddess for her gifts and to ensure a good year of fishing, a boat full of gifts are floated out to sea. On board are feminine presents such as flowers, candles, jewelry, lipstick and perfume.
Spain
In Spain, New Year's Eve festivities begin with a family dinner including shrimp, lamb and capon (rooster). The donning of red underwear on December 31 is traditional, as it is thought to bring good luck in the coming year. Perhaps most unique is the Spanish custom of eating 12 green grapes—one for each strike of the clock as it strikes midnight—each of which is believed to bring good fortune for every month of the coming year. Then the real festivities begin: People enjoy wild parties at private homes and in public squares. Copious amounts of cava (aka, sparkling wine) and Champagne are enjoyed until the next morning. Then, a traditional breakfast of hot chocolate and fried pastries is eaten.
Germany
New Year's Eve is a time of great festivities and fun in Germany. Berlin is home to one of Europe's biggest parties—around a million people congregate near the Brandenburg Gate, and a showy fireworks display is launched after the strike of midnight. One of the more unique German traditions is to perform a ceremony called Bleigießen (pouring lead). This custom calls for each adult to melt lead in a spoon (over a candle or a gas stove), and then to pour the molten metal into a glass of cold water. The resulting shape is analyzed, and is believed to prophesize the happenings in one's coming year. Another wide-ranging German tradition is to eat a small marzipan pig on New Year's for good luck.
Denmark
New Year's is serious business for the people of Belgium. First up is an evening meal spent with family and friends. The meal is capped off with a traditional dessert known as Kransekage, a tall, circular cone-shaped cake embellished with flags and firecrackers.
Speaking of pyrotechnics, fireworks—launched by individuals and municipalities—are a huge part of New Year's Eve in Denmark. Many times throughout the night, people go outside numerous times to light off bottle rockets and other sparkling explosives. An odd and unique Danish custom is to save up food throughout the year, and to then toss plated edibles onto the threshold of friends' homes. The more broken dishes in front of one's door, it's believed, the greater the number of friendships and rewarding relationships you'll have in the year ahead.
Another custom common to most all Danes is to climb up off the ground—onto a chair, couch, ladder, anything, really—as the ｃountdown to midnight begins. At the stroke of midnight, everyone jumps down, representing a fresh leap into the New Year.
Hungary
In Hungary, New Year's Eve is known as Szilveszter. On December 31, people gather for house parties or street gatherings—the biggest bash is held outdoors in the capital of Budapest.
When the clock strikes midnight, most people sing the Hungarian national anthem. One of the most interesting customs is the rotation of a sculpture called the Time Wheel, a modern hourglass that takes 365 days for the sand to run out—this happens every December 31.
Russia
New Year's is the most festive time of the year for most Russians. During the communist days, all religious celebrations—including Christmas—were banned, thus all of the pent-up wintertime revelry was transferred onto New Year's, a tradition that lives on today.
The Kremlin clock is watched (in person or on television broadcasts) to ｃount down the moments till midnight.
Revelers eat and drink throughout the evening, and kids even get in on the fun. They wake up to presents left, not by Santa, but by Ded Moroz, aka Father Frost.
Article Source: http://www.msn.com/en-ph/lifestyle/whats-hot/new-years-traditions-around-the-world/ss-BBxved5?li=BBr8OIZ&ocid=iehp#image=1
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VOCABULARY WORDS:
1. Expel (v.) ~ force (someone) to leave a place, especially a ｃountry
2. Convert (v.) ~ cause to change in form, character, or function
3. Reveler (n.) ~ a person who is enjoying themselves in a lively and noisy way
4. Lentil (n.) ~ a high-protein pulse that is dried and then soaked and cooked before eating
5. Auspicious (adj.) ~ conducive to success favorable
6. Copious (adj.) ~ abundant in supply or quantity
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION:
1. Describe the tradition of each of the ｃountry mentioned above briefly.
2. Are there some traditions that Koreans do in anticipation of the solar new year? Give some examples.
3. In most ｃountries, making new years resolution is done every start of a new year. Do you often make one? Have you ever kept and fulfilled a new year's resolution?
